Storing supers for winter

[Swarm]

Kept the brood and a half on through winter as most of the honey was in the half. Going to give double brood a whirl next year in the hope of heading off swarming. In the lap of the gods I know but worth a try

Good choice

 

[The Poot]

Kept the brood and a half on through winter as most of the honey was in the half. Going to give double brood a whirl next year in the hope of heading off swarming. In the lap of the gods I know but worth a try

Good call

 

[Sutty]

If you store wet supers with acetic acid, does the residual honey absorb acetic acid, and if so are the bees still happy with it come spring?

Anyone?

 

[SWHives]

Dipel - does it not harm the bees? Are there other alternatives that have been tried & tested?

Thanks,

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Dipel - does it not harm the bees?

no it doesn't, why should it?
Basically its just nematodes, same as the 'safe' way of dealing with slugs - and it has been 'tried and tested'

 

[drex]

It is a bacillus, not a nematode. I use it with confidence. I have some 2 years past its use by date and it is still being effective

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

It is a bacillus, not a nematode

OK, but same principle - perfectly natural and no danger to the bees

 

[Garry R]

Anyone?

I have done this for years. I do it early when I pop the frames into the storage freezer as it knocks back nosema and wax moth. The freezers are non working. About 150ml of 80% acetic acid in a silicone loaf tin. I use wire free supers so no corrosion issues. The acetic evaporates and in the spring, frames back into the supers and the bees are straight on the frames . I guess the acetic has mostly gone gradually over the winter. Hope this helps.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I do it early when I pop the frames into the storage freezer as it knocks back nosema

any evidence to support that?

 

[Garry R]

I was under the impression that acetic acid evaporation in an enclosed space was a routine treatment for nosema since the banning of Fumidil B in spring feed . I will check the literature for references. It is something I have done for about 35 years.

 

[Garry R]

Here's a thread on this site. Hope it helps.

https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/threads/acetic-acid-fumigation-nosema.16394/

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Here's a thread on this site. Hope it helps.

https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/threads/acetic-acid-fumigation-nosema.16394/

not really - no evidence at all given for it to 'knock back' Nosema

 

[Anduril]

Research done with acetic acid as a treatment against nosema

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

so it sterilizes the comb - that's about it, if your bees had latent nosema beforehand, they will still have it when they go on to this clean comb with the nosema 'knocked back'

 

[Sutty]

so it sterilizes the comb - that's about it, if your bees had latent nosema beforehand, they will still have it when they go on to this clean comb with the nosema 'knocked back'

So helpful to prevent spread between colonies if supers go back on different hives

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

So helpful to prevent spread between colonies if supers go back on different hives

most bees have a level of latent nosema anyway

 

[SWHives]

no it doesn't, why should it?
Basically its just nematodes, same as the 'safe' way of dealing with slugs - and it has been 'tried and tested'

So, do you need to let the supers/frames dry after spraying with Dipel or is it OK to straight away? Thanks

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

So, do you need to let the supers/frames dry after spraying with Dipel or is it OK to straight away? Thanks

no idea I'm afraid, never used the stuff, I just store my frames wet

 

[pargyle]

So, do you need to let the supers/frames dry after spraying with Dipel or is it OK to straight away? Thanks

You don't soak the frames ... I use a pump pressure sprayer like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Action-Gar...ywords=Pump+Up+Sprayer&qid=1662902061&sr=8-17
Set it on a mist setting and just quickly go over each side of the frame - I put them back into another super as I do each frame and to be honest they are largely dry by the time they go back in the stack.

 

[Mint Bee]

Just as a heads up, today I moved a stack of what I thought were secure wet supers and found a couple frames that had already been colonies by wax moth larvae - wax gone in about a third of the frame and nice big grubs for the chicken. Will be treated everything I can with Diple ASAP Only finished harvesting just over 3 weeks ago, so doesn't take long for a problem to develop